Latest Area News Headlines

WORTHINGTON - Stormy weather across southwestern Minnesota had much of the area under a tornado watch Thursday evening.

Counties in South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska were also covered by the watch that lasted until 11 p.m.

Earlier in the evening, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Rock County after a funnel cloud was spotted near Beaver Creek. By 6 p.m. it had been canceled, although severe thunderstorm warnings lingered into the night in parts of the region.

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported the Weather Service confirmed a tornado near Canton...

WORTHINGTON – Both Republican representatives from southwest Minnesota will be facing opponents in the 2014 general election in November.

In District 22A, incumbent Joe Schomacker will face a newcomer to the political field.

Diana Slyter has lived in the small town of Florence for about four years after retiring from the U.S. Postal Service and moving to the area from west central Minnesota after living in the Twin Cities. She has experience as a city leader, having been elected to the Florence City Council in the 2012 election.

WORTHINGTON - A section of the concrete spillway’s floor inside the Lake Bella dam’s spillway has been repaired, having been eroded over the years by rocks that were removed from the riprap along the lake’s shoreline and tossed into the dam structure by vandals.
This is the only time in 25 years the spillway has been completely dry, so the problem could be seen and repaired, according to Dan Livdahl, Okabena-Ocheda Watershed district administrator.

Steps were taken immediately to fix the structure, with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources rushing through a permit...

WORTHINGTON – With the filing period closed for those in county, state and federal offices that hold primaries August 12, only one county filing will be affected by the primary vote.

In Murray County, The District 4 seat currently held by John Giese, who did not refile, has five candidates. District 4 covers the city of Slayton. The five candidates include Glenn Kluis, Bradley Pagel, Holly Wrenn-Wicklander, Ken Leas and Bill Belanger.

In Southwest Minnesota, there are only a few county races. In Cottonwood County District 5, Randy Sawatzky and Tom Appel will vie for the seat...

WORTHINGTON – The Nobles County Commissioners Tuesday morning unanimously approved a motion to ask the Worthington City Council not to put a question on the 2014 general election ballot about transferring park property where the old pool was located to the county for use to build and operate a public library.

The city charter requires voter approval to release the land from park status, but the commissioners expressed concern that the $30,000 to $50,000 it would cost to put the question on the ballot would be spent needlessly. Several of the commissioners said the issue of the Lewis...

WORTHINGTON – The Nobles County Commissioners Tuesday morning unanimously approved a motion to ask the Worthington City Council not to put a question on the 2014 general election ballot about transferring park property where the old pool was located to the county for use to build and operate a public library.

The city charter requires voter approval to release the land from park status, but the commissioners expressed concern that the $30,000 to $50,000 it would cost to put the question on the ballot would be spent needlessly. Several of the commissioners said the issue of the Lewis...

LUVERNE – A $5,000 reward is being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who broke into the Sharkee’s building in Luverne in the early morning hours May 27 and set a fire.

According to information released by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, a forcible entry was made and a fire intentionally set. A deputy with the sheriff’s office noticed smoke coming from the Sharkee’s building at 705 S. Kniss Ave that morning. The Luverne and Beaver Creek Fire Departments were called to put out the fire.

WORTHINGTON – The next meeting of the Nobles Economic Opportunity Network, known as NEON, will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 12 at the Worthington Fire Hall.

Representative Rod Hamilton, Representative Joe Schomacker and Senator Bill Weber have been invited to attend to provide an update of the legislative session. Volunteers are needed for the following subcommittees: IT and Broadband Project, Goals and Values of NEON and Guidance Document, which will be modeled after SCALE bylaws.

CURRIE – The End O Line Railroad Park and Museum will have an open house on Saturday,...

WORTHINGTON - Grazix Animal Health Inc., based in San Carlos, Calif., has signed a lease to move into the Biotechnology Advancement Center in Worthington. Grazix manufactures a family of next-generation natural animal health products, which are developed to assist veterinary professionals to maintain healthy animal digestive balances in production environments.

The company is relocating its sales and distribution operations to Worthington, where it will be managed by Randy Simonson, a Worthington resident and business owner. Grazix anticipates hiring three full-time employees...

WORTHINGTON – Duininck, Inc. on Thursday announced the acquisition of Worthington Excavating, Inc. In a deal that was finalized last week, Susanne Murphy will remain as General Manager to the 17 current employees.

Worthington Excavating was founded in 1978 by Tom Murphy as TR Murphy Contracting. After his sudden heart attack in 1998, the company was carried forward by a group of dedicated employees led by his wife Susanne. She said it is great to be able to offer the expanded resources Duininck brings to the table.